Socio-Culture of Shahpur Jat

Shahpur Jat - Socio-Cultural Issues :

(shoppers exploring the streets of shahpur jat)

                      Shahpur Jat is an old urban village settlement dating back to 900 years. Over time many generations have witnessed the rise and fall of the settlement of Shahpur Jat. But in recent years Shahpur Jat has been witnessing a significant change in both its social cultural as well as economic set up.
As being told by the residents there, Shahpur Jat came to its name because during one of those years a family of Jats had ended up moving in the area and hence the expansion of the village had begun which basically resulted with the area being named as Shahpur Jat.                                  



According to more sources, the Jat's have been living in Shahpur for more than sixty years now happily and peacefully.
As far as the society's thinking goes, a large number of people as told by the residents there believe that Shahpur Jat is a fully Jat area, which in some ways is true but the area does reside other castes there too which includes Balmiki, Kumhars, Nai's and Baniya's.

(Two jat women sitting outside a store owned by their family)

(Two of many designer stores)

The society also looks at Shahpur Jat as a fashion hub only, its very rare to find someone coming to Shahpur Jat for other purposes rather than shopping at the designer stores.

         

(An old man enjoying a hookah)

  Shahpur Jat is one place which has its own contrasts. On one hand where designers are selling stylish dresses and trendy items on the other hand you will find the place full of women hiding behind their veils as a mark of respect towards their society. You will even find such women owning exquisite design stores but still following their traditions.

(A young bride covering her face as a mean of respect 

                                  towards elder)



The perspective of people towards Shahpur Jat is quiet contradictory, as the residents there believe that Shahpur Jat is their home, a place to reside and carry on with their daily lives at meanwhile for visitors there it is simply just a fashion hub.

For the residents there Shahpur Jat has a lot more meaning and significance, as for majority of the residents currently residing there it is their birth place and a place which for Jaat's especially holds a rich meaningful heritage for them. Shahpur Jat can be a place for all of the ages, as it is a designer hub, it focuses the most on the young audience but there there are a few attractions in shahpur jat for aged people as well, the area can offer historical monuments and small stores which provide enough variety of products to please that age.

 





                                                                                              -  Aparna Sharma.